Fused connecter unit



E. T. CONDON jams, 1935.

FUSED CONNECTER UNIT Filed Sept. 24, 1952 INVENTOR EDWARD T Co/vooA/ a ATTOR N EY Patented Jan. 8, 1935 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The invention relates to electrical connecter units such as are provided for conveniently interconnecting electrical conductors. It has for an object to combine a connecter block of this nature with a fusible element, and particularly in such a manner that a plurality of circuits from the block may be energized only when a fusible element is located in place upon said block.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a block of this nature whereby connection may be made in such a manner that any selected circuit or circuits of the outgoing circuits from the block may be energized at will so long, of course, as the fusible element is effective.

Still another object of the invention is to aiford a simple and inexpensive device permitting of readily making the necessary conductor connections for accomplishing such selective energize.- tions, as well as rendering the fusible element readily accessible for replacement if required.

In carrying out the invention, a pair of terminal fuse clips adapted for external conditions is arranged to be secured, for example, to opposite ends of a rectangular block of insulation, said clips being designed to removably receive a suitable fusible element such as the usual cartridge fuse. Extending transversely through this block and preferably between the fuse clips is a plurality of conductor receiving contact members, such as metal tubes affording sockets designed to receive the conductors from opposite sides of the block. Provision is made also for then securing such conductors to the tubes, as by means of binding screws passing through the top of the block and threaded into the respective tubes to bear upon the retained conductors.

Furthermore, the connecter block aforesaid is arranged to be combined with a single-pole double-throw, or like multipoint, switch; and in such a manner that by throwing the switch to one or the other of its poles a corresponding circuit of the outgoing circuits may be energized if the fusible element is effective.

The nature of the invention, however, will best be understood when described in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the novel connecter unit, and shows also diagrammatically circuit connections thereto.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the unit.

Fig. 3 is a. central transverse section.

Referring to the drawing, designates a rectangular block of insulation material, such as a phenolic condensation product and the like. At the opposite ends of this block are secured attaching lugs 11 and 12, respectively, for an incoming lead 13 and an outgoing lead 14 of a grounded power circuit such, for example, as is commonly employed in the signaling and lighting systems of motor vehicles. A fuse clip 15 and a fuse clip 16 may be formed integrally with these lugs, but, as shown, are provided as independent units. Both are then held as by means of tubular rivets 17 and 18 to the top of the block, the lower head of the rivet being countersunk into the body of the block, as shown.

One or more openings, as the opening 19 passing through the block from top to bottom, may be used for securing the block as a whole to a suitable support (not shown), this opening being located preferably between the fuse clips 15 and 16.

There are also located between these fuse clips, and upon opposite sides of the opening 19, transverse passageways or openings 20 and 21 and into which are fitted metal tubes or sleeves 22 and 23, respectively, of somewhat lesser length so that they may set back from the corresponding side walls of the block to avoid short-circuiting.

A fusible element 25, preferably of the cartridge type, is arranged to be snapped into the clips 15, 16 to energize the outgoing conductor 14 and which may be connected, for example, to the arm 26 of a single-pole double-throw switch. The poles 27 and 28 of this switch are arranged to be connected at one side of the block to the tubes or sleeves 22 and 23, respectively, while outgoing conductors 29 and 30 are connected to these tubes at the opposite side of the block. Binding screws 31 and 32, which pass through the top of the block and are threaded through the said tubes, are designed to retain these conductors securely in position within their respective tubes.

By this expedient, when the switch arm 26 is connected to one or the other of the switch poles 2'7 and 28, a corresponding conductor 29 and 30 will be energized, provided the fusible element is effective. If such element fails, neither of the conductors 29 and will receive any energy, notwithstanding the throw of switch arm 26 to one of the switch points. Fusible element 25, furthermore, is readily accessible for replacement, while connection may conveniently and securely be made to the tubular sockets, and the device as a whole constitutes a compact and efiicient unit for the purpose.

I claim:

1. A fused connec'ter block, comprising a block of insulation, a pair of terminal fuse clips secured thereto for receiving a fuse element and one of which clips is adapted for connection to a source of electricity and the other serving as an output terminal, a plurality of conductorreceiving and conducting contact members passing transversely through the block between said clips, and means for holding conductors to the said conductor-receiving and contact members, a conductor introduced at one side of a contact member being adapted for connection with the output terminal clip and a conductor introduced from the opposite side thereof then being energizable only when the fuse element bridges the said clips, and means between the fuse clips and accessible from the top of the block when the fuse element is removed from its clips for locking conductors to the contact members when introduced therein. 1

2. A fused connector block, comprising a block of insulation, a pair of terminal fuse clips secured thereto for receiving a fuse element and one of which clips is adapted for connection to a source of electricity and the other serving as an output terminal, a plurality of metal, open-ended tubes passing transversely through the block between said clips, and binding screws passing through the top of the block between the fuse clips and into the respective tubes for holding conductors to the said tubes, the screws being accessible only when the fuse element is removed from its clips, a conductor introduced at one side of a tube being adapted for connection with the output terminal clip and a conductor introduced from the opposite side thereof then being energizable only when the fuse element bridges the said clips.

EDWARD T. CONDON. 

